Abstract: "Migration
is
the
act
or
process
of
moving
from
one
place
to
another
with
the
intent
of
staying
at
the
destination
permanently
or
for
a
relatively
long
period
of
time
(1992,
Longman).
It
can
also
be
assumed
that
people
move
from
one
place
to
another,
usually
their
home
place,
to
work
or
to
settle
in
another
place.
As
basic
factors,
migration
take
place
an
area
where
the
migrants
believe
that
their
opportunity
and
life
circumstances
will
be
better
at
their
destinations
than
the
present
location.
Nevertheless,
if
an
area
where
takes
place
a
movement
of
in-­migration
because
of
positive
conditions
(pull
factors),
this
will
be
generally
increased
the
population
or
human
resources.
Similarly,
if
an
area
where
takes
place
a
movement
of
out-­migration
due
to
negative
conditions
(push
factors),
this
area
will
lose
their
population
or
human
resources.
Some
time
it
affects
the
negative
impacts
and
potential
challenges
for
sustainable
socio-­economic
development
of
this
area.
Therefore,
this
study
is
based
on
some
specific
areas
of
Myanmar:
Hpa-­an
Township,
Kayin
State
and
Mrauk-­U
Township,
Rakhine
State
where
migration
process
takes
place
by
focusing
the
question
of
how
and
why
the
people
are
migrating
in
these
areas.
This
paper
is
intended
to
explore
the
migration
patterns
of
these
are
as
and
to
point
out
the
main
reasons
of
push
and
pull
factors
for
these
migrations.
To
obtain
the
relevant
data,
it
is
analyzed
with
field
observation
and
in
semi-­structured
in-­depth
interview
survey
method
to
the
local
authorities,
experts
and
local
people.
Some
of
the
facts
from
the
interview
data
are
assessed
by
SWOT
Analysis
to
know
the
strengths,
weaknesses,
opportunities
and
threats
due
to
migration.
As
a
result
from
this
study,
economic
condition
is
the
key
factor
of
the
migration
for
the
study
areas
and
that
effect
on
the
socioeconomic
condition
of
these
areas.".....Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015.

"In recent years migration studies have theorized that 21st-century migration is following patterns that both incorporate and diverge from academic and policymaking explanations of late 20th-century migration. The case of Myanmar, whose out-migration is well-known and well-enumerated, nevertheless shows both a less-known pattern of in-migration in rural areas as well as environmental (and not only economic) factors in both in- and out- migration.
James Clifford’s earlier, Asia-Pacific-focused work Routes, published in 1997, was influential in modifying the conventional academic foci on migration. Addressing the “subjectivity” of the ethnographers of peoples and migrations and their subjects as more an issue of shared, though differing, ideas of movement and space, he brought a new awareness of the interplay between semantic webs purportedly possessed by fieldwork subjects and their would-be interpreters among scholars. He followed this work with a particular narrative of Native American migration in Returns, published in 2013. Both of these works open the door for new attempts to study and interview migrants in their own situations and to grasp the diversity of migration beyond push-pull factors. One burgeoning methodology within this new research initiative was that of ethnographic interviews with migrants. Clifford had revealed an extremely human, molecularly detailed side of interviewees and respondents. Newer works began to concentrate almost exclusively on the migrants’ own narratives and to pull slighter, more localized explanations from them in the same mode as Charmaz’s grounded theory. Here were the roots of ‘new migration’ ideas. With the wealth of published data becoming available from migrants worldwide, small and large differences between their experiences and general migration theory became more apparent...".....Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015.

Abstract: "This paper presents the findings of a research study that investigated the level of education that the children of labor migrants from Burma now living in Chiang Mai, Thailand can access to as well as looking at the possibility and different channels for their further education should their parents decide to return to Burma. The focus of the study concentrates on four different ethnic groups, Karen, Karenni, Palaung and Shan by looking at children from the age between 4-13 years old to identify factors that are involved when these migrant children move back to Burma. At the same time, for many children who spent most of their lives in Thailand, it is interesting to see the possibilities and challenges for them in relating to accessing to education since Burma is a new home for many of them. Therefore, it is also interesting to see how the Burma government as well as the Thai education system will respond to this issue of educational development in the changing economic and democratic processes of these countries.".....Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015.

Abstract: "This
work
seeks
to
understand
gender-­based
violence
and
the
connection
between
violence
and
livelihoods
for
refugees
living
in
conditions
of
social
exclusion.
Through
qualitative
research
consisting
of
40
interviews,
a
market
survey,
and
observation
conducted
among
Burmese
Muslim
refugees
in
Thailand,
this
work
analyzes
the
connection
between
livelihoods
strategies,
social
exclusion,
and
gender-­based
violence.
Muslims
are
a
marginalized
group
within
Burma
and
experience
ongoing
discrimination
while
living
in
refugee
communities
in
Thailand,
which
results
in
risk
for
several
kinds
of
violence
at
multiple
levels.
The
experiences
of
Muslim
refugees
living
in
Thailand
offer
insight
into
the
conditions
that
shape
violence
for
refugees
more
generally.
Findings
show
that
several
factors
contribute
to
the
incidence
of
gender
violence,
including
structural,
community,
and
interpersonal
stressors
and
constraints.
These
dynamics
also
shape
violence,
whether
domestic
abuse,
harassment
and
assault
within
the
refugee
camp,
or
experiences
with
Thai
authorities.
By
showing
the
complex
conditions
that
shape
gender-­based
violence
for
refugees
in
this
context,
this
work
demonstrates
the
need
for
consideration
of
marginalized
groups
within
refugee
populations
and
the
layered
nature
of
the
conditions
that
underpin
dynamics
of
gender
violence.
This
pa
per
concludes
with
consideration
of
the
implications
of
these
findings
for
the
possibility
of
refugee
return
to
Myanmar
in
the
context
of
ongoing
ethnic
difficulty
and
livelihoods
struggles.".....Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015.

Abstract: "Migration
for
employment
has
been
a
global
challenge
in
today’s
world
along
with
the
rising
figure
of
world
migration
population.
For
that
reason,
the
drawbacks
of
labour
migration
need
to
be
managed
effectively
based
on
understanding
the
real
context
of
migrant
workers
in
the
country
in
which
they
work.
Based
on
the
pursuit
of
this
interest,
an
ethnographic
study
has
been
been
conducted
to
explore
the
social
relationship
among
Myanmar
migrant
workers
in
Malaysia
since
November
2014.
The
formulated
research
questions
is:
what
does
the
social
relationship
mean
among
Myanmar
migrant
workers
in
Malaysia?
More
specifically,
what
difficulties
do
they
face
and
how
do
they
seek
from
their
social
networks
in
case
of
difficulties
in
Malaysia;
and
what
social
organizations
contribute
to
meet
the
needs
and
difficulties
of
Myanmar
migrant
workers
in
Malaysia?...".....Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015.

"...That large numbers of Myanmar’s migrants end up prey for criminals, exploited and discarded, is part of a wider problem. Ethnic minorities, and especially those from groups that don’t have full citizenship in Myanmar, are ripe for exploitation. When these stories hit the news there is some level of outrage, leavened by resignation that there are too many ills in the world. Muslims from western Myanmar are among those who seem to do it toughest when they seek out opportunities abroad.
Yet it’s not all doom and gloom, and the possibilities for migrants are probably better than ever. Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, to name just the three most obvious countries, all require huge surges of youthful and energetic labour to take care of the jobs that their own people can’t or won’t do.
Foreign labour helps to keep goods and services cheap, and also frees up the Thais, Malaysians and Singaporeans to study longer and harder, and work toward achieving solid middle-class status. This means that the jobs lower on the economic pecking order are open to those who want to build new lives in foreign lands..."

Abstract: "This paper focuses on the recent emergence of regional production networks and
border industrial zones, the labor migrations they are generating, and their consequences for
“surplus populations” in the Greater Mekong Subregion (mainland Southeast Asia). In this
region the textile and garment industry is employing increasing numbers of workers in border
areas on flexible and highly precarious work “contracts”. To understand these emergent labor
formations we focus on three scales of analysis through a case study from the Thailand–Burma
border. We focus on initiatives led by the Asia Development Bank, accompanying subregional
political groupings which aim to facilitate capital flows and trade by reducing transaction time
and cost, and a case study of labor recruitment and employment practices in one border town.
In examining these three scales, we question the value of characterizing such trans-national,
state-led, authoritarian, and racialized labor formations as neoliberal."
Keywords: precarious labor,migration, Greater Mekong Subregion, Mae Sot, border industrial
zones, racialization, textile and garment industry

Author/creator:

Dennis Arnold and John Pickles

Language:

English

Source/publisher:

Department of Geography, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;

"Main objectives for this research report on Understanding Recruitment
Industry in Thailand are:
1. Study the structure, profile and characteristics of Thai
employment agencies
2. Examine the practices of licensed employment agencies in
recruiting Thai migrant workers for employment abroad
3. Explore possible ties between the employment agencies and
government officials and politicians
4. Investigate the enforcement of the labor recruitment law with
respect to employment agencies, as well as possible links to human
trafficking.
The study examined the existing 218 licensed employment agencies
in Thailand located in both Bangkok and upcountry. Through cooperation
with the Thailand Overseas Employment Administration (TOEA),
Department of Employment (DOE) and Ministry of Labor, information about
employment agencies was analyzed and categorized by target destination
country and sectors for employment opportunities..."

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements...
Phase I:
Introduction...
Government Policy and Gaps...
Trends and future forecast for employment during the economic crisis from
business sectors...
Impact of the Crisis on Informal Workers...
Impact of the Crisis on Formal Sector Work and Remittances to Rural
Households...
Conclusion...
References...
Appendix.....
Phase II:
Summary of findings...
.
Introduction...
Informal workers in urban settings...
.
The rural poor...
Workers in the formal sector...
Migrant workers and the unemployed...
Specific impacts on male and female formal and informal workers...
Conclusion...
Annexes.

The 124-page report is based on 82 interviews with migrants from neighboring Burma, Cambodia, and Laos. It describes the widespread and severe human rights abuses faced by migrant workers in Thailand, including killings, torture in detention, extortion, and sexual abuse, and labor rights abuses such as trafficking, forced labor, and restrictions on organizing.

Executive Summary:
"In the course of cross-border migration from Myanmar, many who are
involved in the migration process such as migrants, their families, money
lenders, brokers, transnational money transferors, etc., intentionally or unintentionally
maintain the status of illegality. However, with the objective to
negotiate their own way into the new livelihood space to secure their share
of development through migration, they see their exercises in maintaining
illegality as licit behavior, which is considered legitimate, given the social
context in which they live. The gap between what is considered illegal by
the state and as illicit by the people gets wider. It is easy for those who are
involved in the migration process to define the thin line between illegal and
illicit behavior – from their own social perception – which can never be identified
or recognized by the existing legal system in any country.
Strong social connections and networks of some ethnic groups that have
been in existence for a long time between Myanmar and its neighboring countries
have fueled cross-border human mobility in both directions, regardless
of legal border restrictions. Migration is often seen by the countries of
destination as a threat to national security and by the country of origin as
a problem to be solved. These negative perceptions got worse when crossborder
migration became more dynamic, taking place in various informal/
illegal forms. Most studies attempted to highlight push and pull factors of
this dynamic cross-border migration from Myanmar, as well as the living
and working conditions of Myanmar migrants living abroad and their remittances.
However, there are very few studies that shed light on the course
of cross-border migration from Myanmar from the view of migrants, their
families and their home community, and its implications on them.
Millions of Myanmar migrants are working under undesirable and vulnerable
conditions in foreign countries far away from their families. Most of
them got into such situations voluntarily, in order to improve the livelihood
of their families, and to provide education and health care for their children at
home. Although most of them are illegal migrant workers, they are far from
being criminals. They are making important sacrifices and live “borrowed
lives” in order to send money back home to help their families. They are just
ordinary people trying to make ends meet, and for their extraordinary sacrifices,
they are considered heroes by their families.
Most people in the countries of destination normally hear a single story
about illegal migrant workers. There are endless stories of illegal migrants
portraying them as people who are sneaking across the border, stealing
the jobs of local people, committing crimes, etc. Most people have been so
immersed with negative media coverage that migrants have become one
thing in their mind, the bad guys. It may not be fair if the bad behavior of few
unscrupulous illegal migrants is considered representative of the millions
of them working under very hard conditions, simply to provide bread and
butter for their families back home and contributing to increased production
and economic development in the country of destination.
Although the acts of professional traffickers – who are committing serious
crimes of human trafficking across borders that have a series of negative
social impacts, not only on trafficked victims, but also on the families of those
victims – are perceived as illicit, the acts of local brokers who facilitate voluntary
cross-border migration of ordinary people (exploring job opportunities
across the border) at a reasonable fee, and finding appropriate jobs for them
(through their social connections in the country of destination), are not considered
illicit by most local people. Far from being thought of as criminals,
their services create win-win situations and are considered essential, and
their actions – that may have flouted the state’s rules and regulations – cause
no victims.
This paper highlights the perception of each and everyone involved in the
course of cross-border migration from Myanmar in each step they, internationally
or unintentionally, maintain the status of illegality. It also attempts
to identify the implications of cross-border migration on migrants’ families
and their community in the country of origin. Interviews and questionnaire
surveys conducted in different projects in 2008 and 2009 in different places in
Myanmar and neighboring countries, coupled with qualitative and quantitative
analyses, attempt to enhance the reliability and representativeness of the
findings in this paper."

"Every year, around 50,000 people reportedly leave Burma in search of work elsewhere.
Estimates of the number of Burmese migrant workers who live outside Burma’s borders have
varied greatly however, and depend on whether both registered and illegal workers are taken
into account. While Burma’s Prime Minister, Thein Sein, claimed in December 2008 that a mere
46,057 Burmese migrant workers were legally employed abroad, Burma Economic Watch has
estimated that around two million migrant workers and refugees live elsewhere. In contrast,
Irrawaddy has reported that, of the estimated three million Burmese migrant workers who are
employed abroad, around half work illegally.3 In contrast to this figure, Moe Swe of the Burma
Workers’ Rights Protection Committee (BWRPC) has put the overall figure at four million. It has
also been estimated that up to ten percent of the Burmese population resides outside of Burma.
Such patterns of migration are likely to persist, as the International Organisation for Migration
(IOM) has stated that it expects the flow of Burmese migrant workers to increase in the coming
years...Many Burmese migrant workers have not fled for a single reason or because of a single event.
Rather, many have left as a result of what Andrew Bosson has described as the “cumulative
impact” of coercive measures and economic conditions, which push down families’ incomes until
they can no longer survive in their present locations.14 For instance, the Burmese junta’s
policies of forced labour, land confiscation and compulsory cropping have further impoverished
an already desperate rural population. The result, Bosson argues, has not been a dramatic or
spontaneous exodus of migrant workers and refugees, but rather a slower process of “gradual
displacement.”..."

"...While there are many prior studies to date on the internal conflicts
in Burma, these are mostly focused on the human rights situation within
the country. In addition, many previous marked studies, such as works
from Thai academics, International Organizations or the World Health
Organization, have highlighted the human securities of migrant
workers in the destination country whereby the process of migration has
already taken place. However, none of them have focused on the
phenomenon of migration in relation to perceptions of borders and human security. The lack of study addressing the influence of borders and human
securities as the key indicators to people's migration behaviour supports
the significance and relevance of this research...This research aims to understand the differences in the perceptions of
borders between the Thai government, Shan migrant workers, Thai
employers, and informal brokers, which perpetuate the flow of illegal
migration.
Due to the increasing number of illegal Shan migrant workers who
are living, producing and consuming products and services in Thailand,
or in other words, being absorbed into and continuing to contribute to
the Thai economy, it is necessary to map out a framework of borders,
human migration and human security for policy-makers to approach and
use in addressing the migration issue as a basis for future theoretical
development. A focus on the different perceptions of borders in the
migration phenomenon may lead toward a more comprehensive view of
the international migration process, particularly for ASEAN to have
more realistic border and migration policies.
Based on the purpose of the research mentioned above, my
hypothesis is as follows:
"The flow of illegal migrant workers is continuing and increasing
due to the differences in the perceptions and functions of borders
between the Thai government, Shan migrant workers, Thai employers
and informal brokers".
The actual primary data is derived from fieldwork conducted both
in Thailand and Burma. In addition, secondary data collected from
available literature was processed and reviewed in order to support the
borders approach in addressing human security and migration. Finally, a
comparative case study of Cambodian migrant workers is examined
based on fieldwork made in the Rayong province of Thailand..."

"The aim of this
study is to establish a clearer view and a mutual understanding
to the situation of migrant workers in Thailand, in order to find
the right measures to reduce the problems related to migrant
workers. These problems include human right violations,
exploitation of migrant workers, human trafficking, for instance..."

"MAP Foundation, an innovative migrant workers’ support group based in Chiang Mai, has launched a short animated documentary on DVD to promote safety and health in the workplace aimed at migrant workers.
In a humorous but informative way, the 10-minute cartoon deals with the hazards that lurk in factories, construction projects and farms. The moral of the documentary is that migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to physical dangers and must take steps to protect themselves, for instance, by wearing protective clothing or by opposing reckless employers..."

Since October 2006, about 10,000 Rohingya have boarded boats in Bangladesh and Burma and headed for Thailand and Malaysia. The thousands of Rohingya boat people are only the tip of the iceberg. Millions of Burmese have fled the country in the past decade, with two million in Thailand alone...
ASEAN must be proactive in pressuring Burma’s military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to cease perpetuating the severe persecution and economic mismanagement that has been forcing millions of people to flee to neighboring countries.

"...Migration is usually a response to a combination of push and pull factors. In Burma the push factors have been economic deterioration and human rights abuses, while the pull factors have centred around the strong economies of neighbouring countries and their demands for labour. A significant proportion of Burma’s middle class continues to be attracted by the higher salaries and better standard of living on offer in countries like Singapore. However, for the large part of Burma’s population already living in poverty, the push factor becomes stronger every year and many now see migration as a question of survival. [2]
The level and extent of migration in Burma has now reached a point where it has become partially self-perpetuating. In a report for the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (iDMC), Andrew Bosson, explains the cycle of cause and effect behind displacement in Burma. In rural areas of Burma, people survive largely on subsistence agriculture. The initial push factors of forced labour, extortion, agricultural restrictions, land confiscation, economic sabotage and ongoing violence are often exacerbated by a reduction in numbers of farmers, which pushes more people to leave and reduces the numbers yet again. When SPDC forces or ethnic militias make demands on villages for food, money or labour the villagers have little choice and the fewer there are to share the burden the heavier it is. If a large number of people have been taken to work as porters, for example, and not enough are left to tend the farms, then the village faces starvation. The poorest often have little choice but to leave. [3] (For more information, see Chapter 1: Forced Labour and Forced Conscription and Chapter 6: Deprivation of Livelihood).
For this group migration is about finding whatever work is available. This generally means taking jobs in what is described as the “3D” category i.e. dirty, demeaning and dangerous. It also means working in sectors where national laws are ignored and international standards are considered irrelevant. Legal registration is often both difficult and expensive. It is also of limited benefit given the number of employers who confiscate their employees’ documents. Many migrants therefore live in a state of legal limbo and the constant fear of arrest and deportation. On top of all this, they also have to deal with largely negative attitudes from their host countries where migrant workers are often the scapegoat for myriad social problems..."

The tragic deaths of 54 Burmese migrant workers highlight once again the hazards of working illegally abroad...
"THERE were 10 men lying beside me in the back of a pickup truck. Our bodies were covered with a thick plastic sheet and it was extremely hot. I couldn’t see a thing. I could only hear the sound of cars and trucks going by,” recalled Yan Naing Htun, a migrant worker who came to Thailand from Burma eight years ago, when he was just 10 years old.
Yan Naing Htun said he left the Burmese border town of Myawaddy after his father, who raised him and his sister alone, died of malaria. Accompanied by a close friend of his father, he made the journey to Bangkok because he had no way to support himself in Burma.
Burmese migrant workers take the lowest paying and most dangerous jobs in Thailand.
(Photo: The Irrawaddy)
Now, sitting in a square, featureless room that he shares with four other Burmese migrant workers in Mahachai, an industrial area on the outskirts of Bangkok, he looks frail, with sunken cheeks as colorless as the wall behind him..."

"The grass is greener in Thailand for migrant workers, but it’s stained with blood...
Thailand offers a greener pasture for many Burmese migrant workers, but for some it can be a very dangerous place indeed.
In the middle of a September night in 2007, Thein Aung and four other Burmese laborers were taken by three Thai men from the huts where they lived at a sweet corn plantation in the village of Ban Jaidee Koh near the Thai-Burmese border town of Mae Sot.
The five Burmese were handcuffed and led to another village where the killing began. Four of the captives—Than Tun, 35, Kala Gyi, 27, Paw Oo, 28, and Naing Lin, 18—were shot in cold blood. The fifth man, Thein Aung, 58, feigned death and escaped..."

"Thailand has a love-hate relationship with migrant workers...
Since the December elections in Thailand, much of the country’s politics have been in limbo until a new government takes power. Of all the policies awaiting review, the new Thai government would be wise to prioritize a policy concerning the 2 million migrant workers.
Are migrant workers a real threat to the national security of Thailand? Or are they contributing to the economic growth of the country, especially in border areas that were long ago left behind while the rest of the nation developed?
The International Labor Office’s recent report, “Thailand: Economic Contribution of Migrant Workers” by Prof Philip Martin, an expert on international migration from the University of California at Davis, stated: “The Thai labor force of 36 million in 2007 included about 5 percent or 1.8 million migrants.” The report said that last year, migrant workers contributed US $2 billion to the Thai gross domestic product, a figure nearly three times higher than in 1995. It was a clear indication of Thailand’s growing dependency on migrant labor in the 21st century..."

"Thais remain ignorant of the massive contribution made to our economy by foreign labourers...Not only do Thais fail to acknowledge the many positive contributions made to this country by foreign workers, but many also perpetuate prejudices against them. Thailand's lack of a coherent policy on migrant workers from neighbouring countries, who come in large numbers to do hard, physical jobs shunned by most locals, is preventing it from optimising the benefits of labour migration and protecting the rights of migrant and Thai workers. Those who benefit most in the absence of any genuine attempt to regulate the inflow of migrants from Burma, Cambodia and Laos are unscrupulous Thai employers bent on exploiting labour to maximise profits. Successive governments, including the outgoing Surayud government, have been complicit in the systematic exploitation of migrants, for failure to secure borders, and lax enforcement of laws relating to immigrants and employers who hire them..."

"...If migrants are as productive as Thai workers in each sector, their total
contribution to output should be in the order of $11 billion or about 6.2 per cent
of Thailand’s GDP. If they were less productive (say only 75% of Thai worker
output) their contribution would still be in the order of $8 billion or 5 per cent of
GDP. Migrants contribute anywhere from 7 to 10 per cent of value added in
industry, and 4 to 5 per cent of value added in agriculture...."

The Report Highlights the Situation of Women Migrant Workers in Thailand and China...Executive Summary:
Ten BWU researchers eondueted 149 in-depth interviews with migrant women and girl workers in Chiang Mai, Mae Sot, Ranong (Thailand) and Rulli (China) between November 2006-March 2007. Women working in diverse areas of work, ethnicity and age were asked to participate in the research so that the report could represent a wide range of experiences... The research highlights the atrocious day-to-day working conditions and human rights abuses encountered by migrant women and girls working in irregular situations and provides insight into the occupational hazards and harms migrants from Burma face in Thailand and China. The interviews were designed to provide women workers with a much-needed opportunity to speak their mind and assert their own "voice" regarding their work, a power that was often denied in their host countries...
The research has showed that:
. Migrant women and girl workers from Burma have very limited
work opportunities in their host countries due to their irregular
status and are often relegated to working in so-called 3Ds jobs (dirty,
dangerous and demeaning) with little or no labor rights. . Migrant women and girl workers are doubly marginalized and highly
vulnerable to abuses of their human rights due to both their lack of
legal status and their gender. Security concerns for migrant women and girl workers are grave as
they regularly experience threats of sexual harassment and violence
while working in host countries...
The BWU strongly urges the SPDC and governments of the host countries to consider migrant workers' needs and basic human rights. BWU insists that international human rights law be upheld and states work to protect migrants working in irregular settings, by protecting their human and labour rights, and by providing channels for redress when they are abused.

ABSTRACT:
"The Myanmar economy has not been deeply integrated into East Asia's production and distribution networks, despite its location advantages and notably abundant, reasonably well-educated, cheap labor force. Underdeveloped infrastructure, logistics in particular, and an unfavorable business and investment environment hinder it from participating in such networks in East Asia. Service link costs, for connecting production sites in Myanmar and other remote fragmented production blocks or markets, have not fallen sufficiently low to enable firms, including multi-national corporations to reduce total costs, and so the Myanmar economy has failed to attract foreign direct investments.
Border industry offers a solution. The Myanmar economy can be connected to the regional and global economy through its borders with neighboring countries, Thailand in particular, which already have logistic hubs such as deep-sea ports, airports and trunk roads. This paper examines the source of competitiveness of border industry by considering an example of the garment industry located in the Myanmar-Thai border area. Based on such analysis, we recognize the prospects of border industry and propose some policy measures to promote this on Myanmar soil."
Keywords: Myanmar (Burma), Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), regional cooperation, border industry, cross-border trade, migrant workers, logistics, center-periphery
JEL classification: F15, F22, J31, L67

Malaysia provides no protection for its refugee population...
"I’ve always thought that the lives of Burmese refugees were much the same from place to place. They’re generally unwanted, have few opportunities to better their lives and in many cases suffer unconscionable abuse.
An Irrawaddy correspondent witnesses the hardships facing migrant in Malaysia
Witnessing the appalling conditions endured by Burmese refugees in Malaysia, however, has brought their misery and lack of hope into greater focus.
During a visit to the Ampang suburb of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, a Rohingya community leader casually pointed to a group of young Burmese children playing near the small hut that served as their home.
“Look,” he said, pointing in their direction. “None of these children can read or write.”
None of the schools in Malaysia accepts refugee children from Burma, so these children are unlikely ever to learn while they remain in the country..."

"...The number of registered migrant workers in the Thailand by the end of 2006 was roughly 400,000, whilst the number of undocumented migrants has been estimated as anywhere between 800,000 and two million, with those from Burma accounting for approximately 80 percent of this number, [4] with many working in the illegal, unregulated labor market, and in “3-D jobs” (dangerous, dirty and difficult) that often pay well below the minimum wage. The migrant community from Burma is comprised of a myriad of ethnic groups from across all of Burma’s 14 states and divisions, with the majority coming from the ethnic states which share a border with Thailand. Due to the combination of economic and humanitarian reasons prompting migration into Thailand, it is difficult to distinguish between economic migrants and asylum seekers. While many are forced to flee their homes in Burma due to continuing systematic human rights violations, migrants are also drawn across Thailand’s expansive border to escape Burma’s continually deteriorating economy in the hopes of benefiting from Thailand’s booming economy and constant demand for cheap labour. Regardless of the motivations perpetuating the constant flow of migrants from Burma into Thailand, the Royal Thai Government (RTG) maintains a strict and sometimes arbitrary policy on classifying those arriving from Burma as illegal immigrants with many victims of direct human rights abuses refused access to refugee camps, international humanitarian aid, and subject to deportation. Neither Thailand nor Burma are signatories to the 1990 UN International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, which provides basic human rights to those crossing international borders..."

Burmese professionals earn good money in Singapore but still miss home...
"I feel I am nothing,” said Bo Bo Win—a statement that’s hard to believe in view of his successful life in Singapore.
Although he holds down a well-paid job as a senior engineer, with degrees from Burma’s best technical university and Singapore’s National University, Bo Bo Win is not a happy man.
“It’s so sad that we cannot contribute to the country where we were born and were first educated,” he says. “There’s nothing here.”
Bo Bo Win, who is in his thirties, is o­ne of an estimated 50,000 Burmese working in the city-state, most of them educated and skilled people who have joined a brain drain that puts additional strains o­n Burma’s weak economy. The loss of so many young professionals also weakens the country’s middle class, which is best equipped to help reduce poverty and strengthen the economy..."

Burmese migrants battle bureaucracy and exploitation in their search for a new life...
"When he came to Malaysia 10 years ago, Tun Min Naing was full of hope. The 21-year-old even broke off his further education as a third-year student at a Rangoon university. His goal was to help his family survive in crisis-ridden Burma.
But Tun Min Naing’s Malaysian journey ended behind bars at the Semenyih detention camp outside Kuala Lumpur, where about 1,000 illegal immigrants wait for deportation or, in rare cases, recognition as bona fide refugees. Several hundred are Burmese, many of them registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees..."

Capital Expansion
and Migrant Workers...
"...The research looks at the plight of Burmese migrant workers on the border between Thailand and Burma, in particular the town of Mae Sot. Mae Sot has become notorious for the amount, and severity of the human rights abuses. The research demonstrates that the changes to manufacturing, labour, and capital investment has led to a systematic erosion of labor rights. As argued in the thesis, labour rights are consistently sacrificed in order to attract and maintain investment, raising questions as to who are the primary beneficiaries of capitalist development. As Thailand and neighboring countries take further steps to increase border industrialization and development, labor standards are being pushed down both directly for the migrant workers employed in border industries, and often for domestic workers who are being forced to accept lower standards. The research examines the international economic context to the rise of Mae Sot as a manufacturing centre. It also looks at the groups involved in protecting workers rights, specifically the role of trade unions, and suggests that social and political organizing workers must be reignited in order to ensure their protection..."

Author/creator:

Dennis Arnold

Language:

English

Source/publisher:

Office of Human Rights Studies and Social Development, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Mahidol University (Human Rights in Asia Series)

"This paper highlights the contributions of migrant workers to Thailand and recommends policies to promote economic development and decent work in both receiving and sending countries. The ILO views labour migration as a positive force that can stimulate economic growth and development in both labour-sending and labour– receiving countries, and has developed a framework of principles, guidelines and examples to ensure that labour migration contributes to decent work for all (ILO, 2004, 2006)...In 2007, migrant workers in Thailand totaled 1.8 million, comprising 5 per cent of the Thai labour force. They are mainly from Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao PDR, and are employed mostly in agriculture and fisheries, construction, manufacturing, and services such as domestic workers. They are primarily young workers, in the age group that typically pays taxes rather than receives tax-supported services. The report estimates that, in recent years, migrants have made a net contribution of about US$53 million annually to the Thai economy. The report proposes changing migration policy to make it more flexible, with separate registration procedures for different economic sectors, and placing recruitment and deployment under Memoranda of Understanding with migrant sending countries. Labour migration is a process to be managed and not a problem to be solved, argues the report. By recognizing the contributions of migrant workers to the economy and following the proposed adjustments to migration policy, the Thai government could better manage labour migration while protecting migrants."

This paper highlights the contributions of migrant workers to Thailand and recommends policies to promote economic development and decent work in both receiving and sending countries. The ILO views labour migration as a positive force that can stimulate economic growth and development in both labour-sending and labour– receiving countries, and has developed a framework of principles, guidelines and examples to ensure that labour migration contributes to decent work for all (ILO, 2004, 2006)...In 2007, migrant workers in Thailand totaled 1.8 million, comprising 5 per cent of the Thai labour force. They are mainly from Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao PDR, and are employed mostly in agriculture and fisheries, construction, manufacturing, and services such as domestic workers. They are primarily young workers, in the age group that typically pays taxes rather than receives tax-supported services. The report estimates that, in recent years, migrants have made a net contribution of about US$53 million annually to the Thai economy. The report proposes changing migration policy to make it more flexible, with separate registration procedures for different economic sectors, and placing recruitment and deployment under Memoranda of Understanding with migrant sending countries. Labour migration is a process to be managed and not a problem to be solved, argues the report. By recognizing the contributions of migrant workers to the economy and following the proposed adjustments to migration policy, the Thai government could better manage labour migration while protecting migrants.

"Throughout 2005 thousands of people from Burma continued to leave their country in order to seek employment abroad. Due to a range of political, economic and social factors, the population of Burma is highly mobile. Mass migration out of Burma has continued since the 1962 Ne Win military takeover of the country. The ongoing exodus represents one of the largest migration flows in Southeast Asia. It is estimated that 10 percent of Burma’s population has migrated to other countries. Most migration from Burma involves overland cross-border travel to neighboring countries, including Bangladesh and India to the west, China to the north, and Laos, Malaysia and Thailand to the east. The greatest concentration of migrant workers from Burma is in Thailand followed by Malaysia, Singapore and Japan. Accurate demographic data of migrant workers from Burma in most countries however is difficult to obtain because many are undocumented and unregistered in their destinations.
In many cases migration is the only option for those targeted by the regime and caught in the middle of military conflict, particularly those of ethnic minority groups. Systematic human rights violations such as mass forced relocation, arbitrary arrest, torture, rape, and extra judicial killings carried out by the SPDC leave no other option other then to seek refuge in other countries. Because entry into refugee camps in Thailand and Bangladesh is limited and only some are granted refugee status, many are forced to either enter the camps illegally or seek unauthorized employment. Many who have fled severe human rights abuses in Burma with valid claims to refugee status are categorized as economic migrants and therefore are vulnerable to involuntary repatriation..."

"Throughout 2004, large numbers of people continued to leave Burma to seek work abroad. Approximately ten percent of Burma’s population migrates to other countries, according to a report, Migration, Needs, Issues and Responses in the Greater Mekong Subregion 2002, by the Asian Migrant Center. People leave Burma for a number of reasons. Rampant inflation, a deteriorating economy and general lack of employment and educational opportunities are factors that cause many people to emigrate. In addition to these hardships, many people living in rural areas are forced to pay heavy taxes to local officials and the military and to sell a large percentage of their crops to the government at below-market prices. The regime’s gross and continued violation of fundamental human rights resulted in the extension of U.S. trade sanctions and the institution of EU non-trade related sanctions in August 2004, placing further economic pressure on the citizens of Burma (source: World Factbook, CIA, 2004). For these reasons, many Burmese view their migration as less of a decision than an economic necessity.
Ethnic minority people living in civil war zones often have no choice about emigrating, as they are forced to flee their homes to avoid brutal campaigns of violence perpetrated against them by SPDC soldiers. Every year thousands of people flee across the border, primarily into Thailand, to escape human rights violations which include mass forced relocation, arbitrary arrest, torture, rape and extra-judicial killing. Some of these people are able to enter refugee camps in Thailand and Bangladesh. However, many of those fleeing human rights violations are not recognized as refugees by the governments of countries neighboring Burma to which they usually arrive. These individuals are left with the choice of trying to enter refugee camps illegally or else trying to survive as migrant workers.
Migration from Burma is facilitated by the fact that seven of Burma’s 14 states and divisions share borders with neighboring countries. In the west, Burma borders Bangladesh and India, in the north and northeast China, and in the east Laos, Malaysia and Thailand. In a 1999 report by Save the Children UK, Small Dreams Beyond Reach: The Lives of Migrant Children and Youth Along the Borders of China, Myanmar, and Thailand, the authors note that in the past ten years the largest flow of migrants in the Mekong region has been concentrated along the borders of China, Burma and Thailand, with Burmese people making up the largest percentage of the population migrating. The report goes on to note that while China, India, Bangladesh and Thailand have collectively reported hosting over two million Burmese migrants, the actual population of people from Burma living in these countries is likely to be much higher. However, it is extremely difficult to obtain accurate estimates as to the number of Burmese working abroad, as many are illegal, and the migrant population as a whole is highly mobile. In addition, some migrant groups are ethnically similar to indigenous populations of neighboring countries, making them difficult to identify as non-natives..."

CONCLUSIONS
As outlined, the situation in Mae Sot makes it difficult for organisations to operate effectively in support of Burmese workers. In mid-2004 there were no Thailand-based organisations working specifically on labour issues in Tak. As we have shown, migrant workers are in a vulnerable situation and greater organisational and protection efforts are needed. This organisational and political weakness is in stark contrast to that of employers who enjoy the support of the state. This imbalance makes it difficult for workers to organise to protect or promote their rights. The handful of Burmese organisations attempting to assist workers is limited because of their problematic legal status in Thailand and the intimidation prevents them from operating without fear of reprisals.
Structural factors promote the exploitation and human rights violations of Burmese migrant labourers. Burmese leave Burma due to political oppression and socio-economic hardship, and subsequently have a high threshold for the difficulties they endure in Thailand. Thai authorities and employers, regardless of nationality, are eager to exploit this vulnerability in their effort to maximise profits. A lack of corporate social responsibility and adherence to corporate codes of conduct means workers at the bottom of the supply chain, in places such as Mae Sot, produce textiles and garments and other products for developed country markets in a state of constant exploitation and oppression. It is obvious that Burmese migrant workers in Thailand face a myriad of human rights issues in Thailand and Burma. Denying the freedom to organise effectively undermines any attempts by migrant workers to improve their situation.
The policy of the Thai government towards Burmese refugees and migrants is changing. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s government has forged closer economic and political ties with the Burmese junta and this has involved an increasingly hard-line stance towards Burmese migrants and refugees. Some million and a half Burmese migrant workers in Thailand are now stuck between one the most brutal military dictatorships in the world, and a Thai government intent on maintaining good relations. While the Thai government trumpets “constructive engagement,” there is no doubt that the government’s attitude is driven by business interests.
It is worth noting that the traditional gap between migrant support organisations and workers, and Thai labour organisations has been reduced over the last year or so. This, in combination with greater advocacy for migrant rights – by Thailand’s Human Rights Commission, international and global trade unions, academics in Thailand and the region, governments and human and labour rights organisations both in the region and internationally – is creating space and the potential for greater transparency and respect for labour rights and adherence to labour laws and standards. It may enhance the ability of migrant workers to organise and improve work conditions, but the struggle will still be a long and difficult one.

1. INTRODUCTION:
People from Burma have been entering Thailand since the Ne Win coup in 1962. Most of these people have fled civil war, hunger, poverty, unemployment and political oppression. A significant proportion of these Burmese are employed in the lower rungs of the Thai labour market. Despite the large numbers of people from Burma working in Thailand, there has been very little reliable statistical analysis undertaken in order to understand the situation faced by these people. The paucity of reliable information in this area led us to conduct a survey of about 1,400 people from Burma working in Thailand.1 The survey was undertaken between October 2003 and March 2004, in the following 12 provinces:
• Bangkok
• Singburi
• Lopburi
• Saraburi
• Tak (Mae Sot District)
• Ratchaburi
• Kanchanburi (Kanchanaburi and Sangklaburi Districts)
• Ranong (Ranong District)
• Samut Sakhon (Mahachai)
• Phetchaburi
• Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai and Fang Districts)2
• Mae Hong Son (Mae Hong Son District)...The following is a discussion of the results of a partial preliminary statistical analysis of a sample of about 1,100 of these workers with regard to their place of origin, time of arrival, income in the last 20 years, receipt of a minimum wage and their possession of a work permit.3 The analysis does not involve the estimation of population parameters and any consequent inferences about the nature of the population (though inferences about the population will be published later). Rather, the following is a statistical description of Burmese workers in Thailand, which we, argue is important given the paucity of reliable and credible work in this area.

"Burma escaped the worst ravages of the Tsunami that devastated other countries in the Indian Ocean, but Burmese migrant workers along Thailand’s western seaboard have fared poorly...Although Burma escaped the worst of the tsunami, tragically many Burmese working on Thailand’s western seaboard were swept away by the wave. Before the disaster there were 60,000 registered Burmese workers in Thailand’s six western seaboard provinces— Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Ranong, Trang, and Satun—and an unknown number of illegal Burmese migrants..."

"...Throughout 2003, large numbers of people continued to leave Burma to seek work abroad. Approximately ten percent of Burma’s population migrates to other countries, according to a report, Migration, Needs, Issues and Responses in the Greater Mekong Subregion 2002, by the Asian Migrant Center. People leave Burma for a number of reasons. Rampant inflation, a deteriorating economy and general lack of employment and educational opportunities are factors that cause many people to emigrate. In addition to these hardships, many people living in rural areas are forced to pay heavy taxes to local officials and the military and to sell a large percentage of their crops to the government at below-market prices. For these reasons, many Burmese view their migration as less of a decision than an economic necessity. One migrant worker who had recently arrived to Mae Sot, Thailand said, "The price of airplane and bus tickets have gone up 3 times since January first, and all the edible and household goods have also gone up." Ma Kyi, age 40, and a mother of four, continued," so I have to come here. I have never dreamed to come to Thailand. I have never thought to leave my family. My husband's income is not enough to feed the whole family," (source: "Rapprochement Continues," Irrawaddy, 14 January 2003)..."...
Background: Situation for Women Migrant Workers; Situation for Migrant Children...Burmese Migrants in Thailand: Patterns of Migration and Trafficking; Living and Working Conditions; The Memorandum of Understanding; Thai Migration Policy and Legal Registration of Migrant Workers; Deportation of Migrants; 2003 Timeline of Events for Burmese Migrants in Thailand...Burmese Migrants in Malaysia: Burmese deported after labor complaint...Burmese Migrants in Japan... Burmese Migrants in India... Burmese Migrants in Singapore

CONCLUSION:
As briefly outlined, the situation in Mae Sot makes it difficult for Burmese worker
support organisations to operate effectively. As late as mid-2004 there were no
Thailand-based labour organisations or trade unions working specifically on
labour or trade union rights in Tak with an office and staff located there on a full
time basis. The workers themselves are in an extremely vulnerable situation
and greater organisational and protection efforts are needed. This
organisational and political weakness is in stark contrast to that of the
authorities, police and employers. This imbalance makes it difficult for workers
to organise to protect and promote their rights. The handful of Burmese
organisations attempting to assist workers is limited because of their
problematic legal status in Thailand and the intense pressure preventing them
from operating without fear of reprisal.
Structural factors promote the gross exploitation and human rights violations of
Burmese migrant labourers in Mae Sot. Burmese leave Burma due to political
oppression and socio-economic hardship, and subsequently have a high
threshold for difficulties they endure in Thailand. Thai authorities and employers,
regardless of nationality, are eager to exploit this vulnerability for windfall profits.
A lack of corporate social responsibility and adherence to corporate codes of
conduct means workers at the bottom of the supply chain, in places such as
Mae Sot, produce textiles and garments and other products for Northern
markets in a state of acute vulnerability.
It’s obvious that migrant workers in Thailand, particularly the Burmese, bear a
lot of pressure from nearly every direction, both in Burma and Thailand. A
myriad of human rights are abused in both systematic and random ways.
Denying the right to freedom of association and right to organise effectively
pulls out any attempts by migrant workers to improve their situation at the roots.
The policy of the Thai government towards Burmese refugees and migrants is
in the process of changing, for better or worse remains to be seen. Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s forging of closer economic and political ties with
the Burmese government has resulted in an increasingly hard-line stance by
Thailand towards Burmese migrant workers and refugees, many of the latter
have become migrant workers. Some million and a half Burmese migrant
workers in Thailand are now stuck between one the most brutal military
dictatorship in the world, and a Thai government intent on good relations with
them, with an eye on increased revenue for businessmen operating in Thailand,
and for Thai business operating in Burma.
It is worth noting that the traditional gap between migrant support organisations
and workers, and Thai unions and labour organisations has been reduced over
the last year or so. This, in combination with greater advocacy for migrant
rights – by Thailand’s Human Rights Commission, international and global trade
unions, academics in Thailand and the region, governments and human and
labour rights organisations both in the region and internationally – is creating space and the potential for greater transparency and respect for labour rights
and adherence to labour laws and standards. It also enhances the ability of
migrant workers to organise and improve work conditions."

Author/creator:

Dennis Arnold

Language:

English

Source/publisher:

The Southeast Asia Research Centre (SEARC) of the City University of Hong

"Throughout 2002 large numbers of people continued to leave Burma to seek work abroad. Approximately ten percent of Burma’s population migrates to other countries, according to a report Migration, Needs, Issues and Responses in the Greater Mekong Subregion 2002, by the Asian Migrant Center. People leave Burma for a number of reasons. Rampant inflation, a deteriorating economy and general lack of employment and educational opportunities are factors that cause many people to emigrate. In addition to these hardships, many people living in rural areas are forced to pay heavy taxes to local officials and the military and to sell a large percentage of their crops to the government at below-market prices. For these reasons, many Burmese view their migration as less of a decision than an economic necessity.
Ethnic minority people living in civil war zones often have no choice about emigrating, as they are forced to flee their homes to avoid brutal campaigns of violence against them by the Burmese Military. Every year thousands of people flee across the border, primarily into Thailand, to escape these human rights violations which include mass forced relocation, arbitrary arrest, torture, rape, and extra-judicial killing. Some of these people are able to seek asylum in refugee camps in Thailand and Bangladesh, however many of those fleeing human rights violations are not recognized as refugees by the Thai and Bangladeshi Governments. These individuals are left with the choice of trying to enter refugee camps illegally or else trying to survive as migrant workers.
Migration from Burma is facilitated by the fact that 7 of Burma’s 14 States and Divisions share borders with neighboring countries. In the west, Burma borders Bangladesh and India, in the north and northeast China, and in the east Laos and Thailand. In a 1999 report by Save the Children UK, Small Dreams Beyond Reach: The Lives of Migrant Children and Youth Along the Borders of China, Myanmar, and Thailand, the authors note that in the past ten years the largest flow of migrants in the Mekong region has been concentrated along the borders of China, Burma and Thailand, with Burmese people making up the largest percentage of the population migrating. The report goes on to note that while China, India, Bangladesh and Thailand have collectively reported hosting over two million Burmese migrants, the actual population of people from Burma living in these countries is likely to be much higher. However it is extremely difficult to obtain accurate estimates as to the number of Burmese working abroad, as many are illegal, and the population as a whole is highly mobile. In addition, some migrant groups are ethnically similar to indigenous populations of neighboring countries, making them difficult to identify as non-natives..."

Background:
"Throughout 2002 large numbers of people continued to leave Burma to seek work abroad. Approximately ten percent of Burma’s population migrates to other countries, according to a report Migration, Needs, Issues and Responses in the Greater Mekong Subregion 2002, by the Asian Migrant Center. People leave Burma for a number of reasons. Rampant inflation, a deteriorating economy and general lack of employment and educational opportunities are factors that cause many people to emigrate. In addition to these hardships, many people living in rural areas are forced to pay heavy taxes to local officials and the military and to sell a large percentage of their crops to the government at below-market prices. For these reasons, many Burmese view their migration as less of a decision than an economic necessity.
Ethnic minority people living in civil war zones often have no choice about emigrating, as they are forced to flee their homes to avoid brutal campaigns of violence against them by the Burmese Military. Every year thousands of people flee across the border, primarily into Thailand, to escape these human rights violations which include mass forced relocation, arbitrary arrest, torture, rape, and extra-judicial killing. Some of these people are able to seek asylum in refugee camps in Thailand and Bangladesh, however many of those fleeing human rights violations are not recognized as refugees by the Thai and Bangladeshi Governments. These individuals are left with the choice of trying to enter refugee camps illegally or else trying to survive as migrant workers...Situation for Women Migrant Workers; Situation for Migrant Children... Burmese Migrants in Thailand: hai Migration Policy and Legal Registration of Migrant Workers; Working and Living Conditions; Repatriation of Migrant Workers; 2002 Timeline of Events for Burmese Migrants in Thailand...Situation of Burmese Migrants in Singapore...Situation of Burmese Migrants in Malaysia: SPDC and Malaysian Government Continue Agreement to Issue Work Permits; Five Workers Drown in Attempts to Avoid Arrest; Illegal Migrants Face Fines, Imprisonment and Whipping.

Important, authoritative and timely report.
I. THAI GOVERNMENT CLASSIFICATION FOR PEOPLE FROM BURMA:
Temporarily Displaced; Students and Political Dissidents ; Migrants .
II. BRIEF PROFILE OF THE MIGRANTS FROM BURMA .
III REASONS FOR LEAVING BURMA :
Forced Relocations and Land Confiscation ;
Forced Labor and Portering;
War and Political Oppression;
Taxation and Loss of Livelihood;
Economic Conditions .
IV. FEAR OF RETURN.
V. RECEPTION CENTERS.
VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS....
"Recent estimates indicate that up to two million people from Burma currently reside in Thailand, reflecting one of the largest migration flows in Southeast Asia. Many factors contribute to this mass exodus, but the vast majority of people leaving Burma are clearly fleeing persecution, fear and human rights abuses. While the initial reasons for leaving may be expressed in economic terms, underlying causes surface that explain the realities of their lives in Burma and their vulnerabilities upon return. Accounts given in Thailand, whether it be in the border camps, towns, cities, factories or farms, describe instances of forced relocation and confiscation of land; forced labor and portering; taxation and loss of livelihood; war and political oppression in Burma. Many of those who have fled had lived as internally displaced persons in Burma before crossing the border into Thailand. For most, it is the inability to survive or find safety in their home country that causes them to leave.
Once in Thailand, both the Royal Thai Government (RTG) and the international community have taken to classifying the people from Burma under specific categories that are at best misleading, and in the worst instances, dangerous. These categories distort the grave circumstances surrounding this migration by failing to take into account the realities that have brought people across the border. They also dictate people’s legal status within the country, the level of support and assistance that might be available to them and the degree of protection afforded them under international mechanisms. Consequently, most live in fear of deportation back into the hands of their persecutors or to the abusive environments from which they fled..." Additional keywords: IDPs, Internal displacement, displaced, refoulement.

"There are an estimated 1 million illegal immigrants from Burma and other neighboring countries working in Thailand. Migrant
workers from Burma come from a variety of geographical locations and ethnic groups and work in several different industries
and service sectors in Thailand. There are both push and pull factors at work when people make the decision to migrate to
Thailand. The pull factors include the close geographical location of Thailand to Burma as well as the demand in Thailand for
cheap labor. The push factors include the poor state of the Burmese economy and massive human rights violations that occur all
over the country. Many workers have come to Thailand to escape the demands for forced labor and in their home states and
divisions. In the case of the more than 300,000 Shans working in Thailand, the majority of them have fled from human rights
abuses that include forced labor, forced relocations, arbitrary arrest and rape, but are denied refugee status by Thailand and
therefore are considered illegal migrants..."

"The one million Burmese migrant workers in Thailand are one of the largest migrant populations in Asia. Migrant workers from Burma come from a variety of geographical locations and ethnic groups and work in several different industries and service sectors in Thailand. There are both push and pull factors at work when people make the decision to migrate to Thailand. The pull factors include the close geographical location of Thailand to Burma as well as the demand in Thailand for cheap labor. The push factors include the poor state of the Burmese economy and massive human rights violations that occur all over the country. Many workers have come to Thailand to escape the demands for forced labor on infrastructure and other projects in their home states and divisions. In the case of the more than 100,000 Shans working in Northern Thailand, the majority of them have fled from human rights abuses that include forced labor, forced relocations, arbitrary arrest and rape, but are denied refugee status by Thailand and therefore are considered illegal migrants..." Background: Situation in Mae Sot, Thailand; Situation in Myawaddy; Time-line of the Thai authorities’ operation to repatriate Burmese migrant workers in Mae Sot, and related events in December 2000; Situation for workers in CKI Factory, Mae Sot;
Raid on factory by Thai authorities; workers arrested and beaten, one killed; Employment Conditions of CKI Factory as of December 2000... Situation for Shans in Fang District, Chiang Mai...Situation in Samut Sakon, Thailand...Situation in Mizoram State, India...Situation for illegal migrant Rohingya women in Pakistan...Partial List of Incidents...Personal Accounts...Photos of The Situation of Migrant Workers from Burma

A report on the situation for migrant women workers from Burma in Thailand, and violations of their human rights... "In the 1960s Thailand was besieged by the issues of refugees and for three to four decades this issue has come in one big circle. Today, Thailand
faces yet another issue, that of undocumented migrant workers whose visibility and problems have become more sensitive and difficult. Undocumented
labor- mostly Burmese -left their country for political reasons, or due to internal fighting and insecurity. Recent reasons are more economic. To escape hardship in their home country, they find work as unskilled laborers in three Ds- dirty- difficult and dangerous jobs in Thailand.
Unlike many other migrant labor situation where most migrants are young men, women constitute a significant segment of the approximately
one million of migrant population in Thailand. Women from Burma who migrate to Thailand, much like other people migrating
all over the world, move from their homes and families in search of job opportunities in more prosperous areas. Human rights violations in Burma often cause economic hardship. However, determining
whether people leave Burma due to the hardships they suffer as a result of human rights violations is not always easy to distinguish from purely economic difficulty. Some migrant women have stated that they left Burma solely because of economic hardship.
However, many other flee because of serious human rights violations.
Many who have fled do not have enough to eat because unpaid
forced labor under harsh conditions prevents them from earning
a living. The distinction between economic hardship and violations
of civil and political rights is not necessarily a clear one. Many of these people have been unable to make a living due to continuing unpaid forced labor and forced relocation from the homes.
With little knowledge of the country to which they are moving and working, its language and it laws, women migrating from Burma are in
vulnerable position. Labor exploitation, sexual assault by their employers and law enforcement officers, abuse of power during detention and deportation
against undocumented migrant women in Thailand are systematically
documented..."